Last month my team and I were in Mokhotlong, Lesotho. Throughout the month we did many different ministries, often times with a different combinations of people going to each different ministry. Everyday looked extremely different from the day previous. We could be working at a soup kitchen that day, or we could just be relying on Holy Spirit to lead where he wanted, or we could be presenting the word and testimonies at the local prison… But one thing was consistent despite the hectic schedule we had… Morning devotions at the hospital. Many of us had the opportunity to go a few times, but for some reason I went to do morning devotions 5 times throughout the month.
Every time I went it looked a little bit different because, once again, I went with different people. This hospital was the only one in the district of Mokhotlong, so many people throughout the hills and mountains would have to take days at a time just to walk to the hospital. It was were the MANY HIV patients came for treatments and medications, and where pregnant women had to stay for weeks at a time because it would be too dangerous to try to come when labor started. It did just as all hospitals do, housed the sick and did what they could with the resources they have. The general basis of what we were supposed everyday as we approached the hospital was to encourage the people, and start out their day with the word of God. So we did just that… We always came prepared with the word in hand, and encouragement in our hearts.
After each morning devotion that we did, we opened up the invitation for prayer. It didn’t necessarily have to be for healing, but that was what the majority was. We prayed and prayed and prayed over every person that came to us. Many with HIV, many with high blood pressure, many with different aches and pains throughout their bodies, and even some with family issues.
I prayed, and I prayed hard every time.
I had faith that every person we laid hands on would be healed. You see, I have been rereading the gospels and all of them talk about that faith is a huge part of the healing. Jesus says many times something along the lines of, “Because of your faith you have been healed,” or “Because of your faith THEY have been healed.” So I believed this wholeheartedly. I believed that I would have enough faith to lay my hands on someone, and they be healed.
On my second hospital visit there was a mishap. No translator showed up, so therefore we couldn’t really give the morning devotion. At that point, us racers decided to try to let everyone know that we would just be outside if they want us to pray for them.
I prayed over so. many. people.
I expected healing. I expected people to walk away different than they came but, to my dismay, nothing happened.
Absolutely nothing.
I walked away extremely discouraged, wanting nothing more than to see those people healed. I walked in with a whole lot of faith and I walked out with a lot of defeat. That’s when one of our hosts said something that changed my perspective.
He said, “God doesn’t call us to heal people, he calls us to lay hands on people to pray for healing.”
This struck me right where it needed to. It made me step out of my comfort zone and realize that it doesn’t matter what the outcome is, I am doing His will just by stepping out in obedience and praying for all those people.
I walked away realizing how selfish I was. I walked away knowing that before, all I wanted was to see people healed for my own accomplishments and accolades. I walked away knowing that God will use me in whatever way he pleases, I just have to say yes. If that means healing person after person, my answer will be yes. If that means pray over hundreds of people and see nothing happen, my answer will still be yes.
With that in mind, I had a whole new outlook every time I went to the hospital after that. I was stoked to do the will of God and love on people, simply by laying my hands on them. It wasn’t extravagant, and it didn’t have to be.
I just knew that I was doing the work of the Lord, so I could walk away knowing that His kingdom was coming whether I saw results or not.
In Him,
Caleb Callaway
